Former coach's words help fuel Jaguars RB Thomas Rawls

Wednesday

There is a saying Jaguars running back Thomas Rawls has leaned on through the years.

What you do speaks so well.

Rawls reminded himself of it when the Seattle Seahawks opted not to bring him back following the 2017 season.

Rawls repeated it when he spent the end of last year out of work after the Cincinnati Bengals waived him in October.

And Rawls is sharing it now as he goes through the Jaguars' offseason program, hoping to show enough to earn a roster spot and an opportunity to work behind starter Leonard Fournette.

For Rawls, it's simple yet impactful. Critics? They don't matter. The past? It's over and done with. The future? Anything is possible with the right mindset and work ethic.

Rawls first heard those words from Fred Jackson, his position coach at Michigan. They have stuck with him ever since.

"You can't dictate a lot of different things within the NFL, but one thing you can control is yourself," Rawls explained. "Because sometimes we can get distracted from trying to make the team, competition, worrying about numbers, worrying about the plays, worrying about so many bull-crap distractions. When you really think about it, it's only you against yourself."

Given his path to Jacksonville, it's a surprise the vibrant running back doesn't see it as Rawls against the world.

A quick recap of his journey: Rawls, 25, grew up in Flint, Mich., and said he took the ACT seven times to qualify academically at Michigan. He played sparingly in three seasons and transferred to Central Michigan, where he ran for 1,103 yards as a senior. He went undrafted in 2015, signed with Seattle and briefly starred for the Seahawks before injuries contributed to him falling out of the rotation. Unsuccessful stints with the New York Jets and Bengals led to him signing a futures contract with the Jaguars in January.

Rawls, who worked out for the Jaguars in October but was ultimately not signed, insists those challenges only strengthened his belief in himself. An enthusiastic 10-minute conversation with him is enough to convince just about anyone.

Jackson didn't need any convincing. He's seen that fortitude in Rawls since he was in the ninth grade.

"He believes in himself. Some people say they believe in themselves, and really as soon as adversity hits, you find out that they don't," said Jackson, who is now the dean of students at Ypsilanti Community High School in Michigan after spending more than 30 years as a college coach. "Here's a young man who believes in himself. When adversity hits, it just makes him stronger. And that's why I say, 'What you do speaks so well' because when he's on that football field, he's showing you who he is."

Rawls has been on the field with the Jaguars for four organized team activities sessions, which continue Thursday and Friday before the team breaks for the weekend. Pads aren't worn at this stage and contact is not permitted, but Rawls has shown flashes of the player who ran for 830 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2015.

Last week, Rawls leaped to catch a pass in the flat, displaying good burst and body control. That play stood out because of the Jaguars' need for a third-down tailback who can help protect quarterback Nick Foles and serve as a check-down option.

"The backs are going to get a lot of balls," Foles said. "If you look at the history, I like getting the ball to the back at different times. They are a huge part of the offense."

In addition to Fournette and Rawls, the Jaguars have Alfred Blue, Benny Cunningham and fifth-round rookie Ryquell Armstead on the roster. The team is likely to keep three or four running backs when roster cuts are made, so the best chance for Rawls to stick around could be proving he is the top option for that role.

Rawls wants to show he can still be a team's featured back but is realistic about his current situation.

"I feel like I can play any role," he said. "As long as that 34 is on my back and I'm here in a Jaguars uniform, I'll do whatever they need me to do. If it's third down or if it's every down. Do I believe I'm a third-down back? I believe I'm an every-down back. I believe that I'm a complete player who can always get better.

"But I'm always willing to learn. If you put me out there, I can show you everything from my grit to my heart to having fun to being a great teammate and building team chemistry."

It all traces back to that saying.

What you do speaks so well.

Jackson recalled hearing it from one of his Jackson State coaches in the '70s. He passed it along to his players and was pleased to find out Rawls still remembers it years later.

"It's one of those things that stuck with me," Jackson said. "I'm glad to hear it stuck with him."

Phillip Heilman: (904) 359-4063

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